It was supposed to be a light-hearted trailer drop, vibrant glimpse into the world of Sardaar Ji 3, a film promising colour, chaos and charisma. But instead, the internet lit up with hashtags, fury, and nationalism. At the heart of it all: a few frames featuring Pakistani actress Hania Amir.
On 22 June, when Indian Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh shared the trailer across his social media, the reaction was instant—and polarised. Not because of the plot, not because of the music, but because of who was standing next to him. Hania Amir, charming and effortless on-screen, became an unexpected political lightning rod in a film now burdened with far more than punchlines and dance numbers.
The movie, notably skipping Indian theatres and heading straight to an international release on 27 June, has become the centre of a cross-border cultural storm. In India, outrage snowballed quickly. Online, Diljit was labelled a “traitor”, a “Khalistani”, while calls to revoke his passport began circulating as fast as the trailer itself. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a stern warning: release the film abroad, and face a lifetime ban.
Of course, the timing doesn’t help. The inclusion of a Pakistani artist, however incidental to the plot, has struck a nerve amid renewed diplomatic hostilities and a recent armed flare-up. In April, Instagram accounts belonging to several Pakistani celebrities, including Hania Amir, were blocked in India—a digital symptom of a deeper political unease.
And yet, while Indian nationalists rage, many in Pakistan—and beyond—are applauding the collaboration. “Art refuses to be caged,” one user wrote, praising Diljit for standing by creative integrity rather than bowing to pressure.
Sardaar Ji 3 was never meant to be a statement. But in today’s South Asia, even laughter, it seems, comes with borders.
